Another Preview

Well the Cavs disposed of the Bulls in 5 games, and I am very impressed with how the Bulls fought. They didn't back down from the Cavs and they played pretty resiliently. Joakim Noah as a player is pretty solid but he needs to learn to keep his mouth quiet. The Cavs on the other hand need to step their game up a little more versus the Boston Celtics. The series begins this Saturday at the Q, here is my preview.

-The Cavs again are going to deal with a lightning quick PG in Rajon Rondo. In my opinion he is probably the best PG in the Eastern Conference. He can defend, steal, handle the ball, and penetrate. He can't shoot if his life depended on it, but he is still very effective. It took the Cavs a couple games to realize it but putting Mo Williams on a quick PG will not work. Look for Parker, Moon, and LeBron to take turns guarding Rondo, as their size and length can bother him. They will probably give him a lot of space when they guard him, in hopes of baiting him to shoot jumpers.

-The Celtics are going to try to make this a very physical series. They cannot run up and down the floor as well as the Cavs can, and besides Tony Allen and Rondo, they don't have any athletic players on their team. Playing JJ Hickson and Jamario Moon more minutes will help the Cavs. When the Cavs beat the Celtics in Boston a couple months ago, they played without Shaq and had a very small and quick lineup out there.

-LeBron's elbow should be fine. They took an MRI on it on Monday and there was no structural damage. I am sure he had some flare up, and that it is some tendinitis. Rest and ice will do the trick. The more rest he has the better he will be.

-The Celtics are not as good as they used to be as KG, Pierce, and Allen have all lost a step. LeBron can drive to the basket anytime he wants to against this team. KG no longer has the explosiveness around the basket that he had, Pierce has struggled with injuries, and Allen's shooting percentages have decreased (36% from 3 this year, 40% career average).

-The Cavs need to have Mo and Parker hit their 3's, force the Celtics to shoot jumpers, play small, and defend the pick and roll well. LeBron and Jamison are going to get their touches and points, but the Cavs need to run a little more this series, and make their outside shots. The more we keep Rondo out of the paint, the better off the Cavs will be. Rose found many open players when he drove, and the Celtics have better players who Rondo can dish to.

-Winning the first 2 games of the series will be huge. Why? The Cavs have won once in Boston in the last 3 years. While the Celtics did not have a good home record (24-17), we cannot afford to lose games in Cleveland and shift momentum to the Celtics. We saw how the Cavs fared after they lost game 1 versus the Magic last year.

-Getting Shaq some touches would be nice but I wouldn't put too much emphasis on it. The Celtics have a pretty good low post defender in Kendrick Perkins, length with KG and Rasheed and the Cavs did play better against the Celtics after Shaq got hurt. Having Andy and JJ being active down low will be key.

-The Celtics bench is a pretty average. Rasheed Wallace looks finished as he is content shooting 3's, Marquis Daniels is just average, Glen Davis provides energy, Tony Allen provides athleticism, Michael Finley is on his last legs, and Nate Robinson has been in and out of the rotation. As you can see this group of guys are not that athletic, and it is imperative that the Cavs run the ball.

-This team has a lot of veteran experience and they won the NBA championship two years ago. I don't think they will be a pushover at all. They have a lot of guys who have hit clutch shots (Finley, Pierce, Davis, Allen) and the Cavs cannot take them lightly. The Celtics know that this is their final chance of winning an NBA championship as Ray Allen will become a free agent, and Paul Pierce can become a free agent.

-The internal problems of the Celtics could be a benefit to the Cavs. There has been tension within the team as Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo have been vocal about this displeasure with the team. You already have 2 fiery personalities in KG and Sheed, so things could get ugly....

-Again, the Cavs cannot take this team lightly. They need to come out and play with fire and intensity for every minute of the game. They cannot coast through these games because the Celtics have the talent that will make you pay. The Cavs need to take their defense to another level and look interested in the game. When the Cavs are locked in and focused, they are very very hard to beat.

-We have homecourt advantage, size, athleticism, a solid supporting cast, and LeBron James. Mo played pretty well the first 4 games against the Bulls (16 and 5), Jamison has been averaging 19 and 7, and Shaq had 14 points and 8 rebounds in game 5. If the Cavs continue to get consistent production from these 3, along with some clutch shots from Parker, Moon, and West, then I think the Cavs will be fine.

-My fear is that the Cavs will loathe and take some quarters off, which could cost them a game. If you thought the Bulls didn't give you a good fight, I can guarantee you the Celtics won't stop fighting. Also, free throw shooting has been a concern, and the Cavs need to continue to practice on free throws. It hurts seeing Jamison make an amazing flip shot or LeBron finish at the basket with two guys in front of him, only to see them clank a free throw. They need to step to the line, relax, and make their free throws.

-The Celtics have a lot of experience, but I think the talent drop off with the Big 3 is too steep to overcome, along with the fact that their bench is not as good as it used to be. 2 years ago, the Cavs had Delonte West as LeBron's #2 option, Z and Ben Wallace starting, and Sasha Pavlovic playing solid minutes. Now, Delonte comes off the bench, Z barley plays, a guy named Shaq and Jamison start for us, KG/Pierce/Allen have all lost a step, Leon Powe now plays for the Cavs, James Posey left for free agency, Eddie House got traded, and PJ Brown has since retired. LeBron himself took the series to 7 games two years ago, and I think the Cavs have a much better supporting cast, and the Celtics are just not as good as they used to be. With all that said, Cavs in 6.

Thanks for reading and go Cleveland!

-Raz

A Quick Review

We had a pretty sports filled weekend. Lets review.

Browns

-With Eric Berry off the board, the Browns selected Florida CB Joe Haden. I didn't write about him in my preview because I didnt think they would draft him because of the addition of Sheldon Brown. Although Haden does not address an immediate need, he will be the replacement for Brown if he falters this year, and it adds more depth to our secondary. Brown is 32 and he doesn't have many effective years left in him. I liked the Haden pick, he was the best CB in the draft.

-Browns fans might complain that we took Haden too high, and we probably did. The Browns did try to trade down but were unable to do so, so they took the best CB that was on the board.

-The selection of S TJ Ward was a pick I did not like. He is not fast and not great in coverage. He does have solid size, great strength and is good against the run. He seems too one dimensional to me. Also, he has injury issues in the past. He doesn't seem like a good value pick in the second round. He did address our need of a S in the draft though.

-Montario Hardesty was a very solid pick. He will be a great compliment to the elusive and quick Jerome Harrison. He is a tough runner who is quick and can carry the ball 20-25 times a game. He is a hard worker and has a ceiling to improve. He doesn't have great timed speed and will not break away for the huge 45 yard run. He also has had issues with different injuries. I like this pick because it adds another offensive playmaker to the team, which is sometime we need.

-OG Shaun Lauvao was a depth pick. He will probably compete to back up Floyd Womack at RG. He isn't that athletic or strong, but he is a smart player who works hard. This was an ok pick.

-Drafting QB Colt McCoy with pick #85 in the 3rd round was a steal. He was graded as a 2nd rounder, and I am ecstatic that we got him. In my previous blog I wrote about why I wanted him, and the fact that we didn't have to trade up to get him was great. He probably won't play much this coming year, but he is our QB of the future. Holmgen and Co. did a great job of staying patient and not paying too much for McCoy.

-S Larry Asante was another solid pick who might not have amazing physical tools, but is very smart and hard working. He was another depth pick, and it was apparent that the Browns continued to address the lack of depth at S.

-WR Carlton Mitchell was a really good pick. This could be a steal for us in the 6th round. He was graded as a 3rd rounder, and the Browns got a receiver who is very fast and can stretch the field. He doesn't have great hands, but he is a hard working kid. I though from rounds 4-7 the Browns needed to add a WR to help add a young playmaker to the offense. The Browns added another young WR to the corps of Mo Massaqoui and Brian Robiskie. I like this pick.

-DE Clifton Geathers was a project pick who has amazing physical tools (6'7 300 lbs) who is perfect as a 5 technique lineman in our defense. He is very raw and has had some off the field issues, but the Browns obviously see something in him. This was a low risk (6th round) high reward pick.

-Overall, if I had to grade this draft I would give it a B-. I thought we reached for Ward, and I thought we could've drafted a WR or TE earlier. The team did a good job of adding depth to the secondary, adding a couple of offensive playmakers, and hopefully drafting the QB for the future. I hope the Browns can reap the fruits of this draft soon.

Cavs

-The Cavs came away with a huge victory against the Chicago Bulls this evening (121-98). LeBron notched his 5th career triple double, and the Cavs will look to end the series on Tuesday.

-The Cavs are very hard to beat when guys like Mo (19 pts), Andy (+14 plus minus), and Jamison (24 points) are all stepping up. This is the supporting cast that LeBron needs every night.

-Shaq continues to struggle and I am not that upset about it. He is 4 games in, and he is going to look a little rusty. We really need him to step up when we play Orlando. He looks a slow out there and he is not finishing well.

-I was very happy to see JJ Hickson play out there. In 17 minutes he scored 10 points and he provided a lot of energy in the low post. He is a good matchup against the likes of Taj Gibson, Noah, and Luol Deng.

-Daniel Gibson needs to play a little more if you ask me. When Parker is not hitting his shots, we should put Gibson in. He was one of the best 3 point shooters in the NBA this past year and he can hit open shots. I understand you need Parker out there to help defend Rose, but when Rose is out of the game we should try putting in Boobie.

-The Cavs seemed to go away from it during game 3, but switching defenders on Derrick Rose seemed to work a little bit today. Putting Parker, West, and Moon on him really allows the Cavs to help distort Rose' game. The Cavs have to force him to shoot jumpers and thats what the Cavs did. When Mo Williams is on him, Mo cannot stay in front of him so Rose is able to penetrate the basket easily. Stopping Rose has been key to this series. When he is unable to penetrate, we force him to shoot and it does not allow him to distribute to his other teammates.

-I think the Cavs will win game 5 and finish the series. The Cavs really seemed to snap out of the funk they were in during game 3. From the 2nd quarter on, the team seemed very focused and played very good defense. As long as the Cavs stay focused, play defense, and make their free throws, they are going to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. The only concerns I have going forward is continuing to get Shaq back in the offense, getting JJ Hickson some minutes, and trying to put Daniel Gibson in the game for 5-7 minutes.

Well that just about does it folks. Hope you enjoyed reading and go Cleveland!

-Raz

Big Night in Cleveland

Hello everyone, as you may know today begins the first round of the NFL Draft, and game 3 of the first round series between the Cavs and the Bulls. Here are some quick thoughts.

Browns

-I am seeing mock drafts from left to right that have Eric Berry falling to us, or the Browns selecting DE Derrick Morgan, QB Jimmy Clausen, DT Dan Williams, RB CJ Spiller or S Earl Thomas. My first option would be to get Berry, my second option would be to select Thomas, my third option would be to take Spiller, and my fourth option would be to take Clausen. I didn't write about Morgan or Williams in my NFL Draft preview, but I wouldn't want to select them. Defensive line is a need for this team, but I would rather spend the #7 pick on someone in the secondary, a QB, or an offensive playmaker.

-Spiller would be an interesting pick as he would add an offensive playmaker this team lacks. He is elusive, extremely quick, high character guy, and is a great return man. While the Browns already have a guy named Josh Cribbs retuning kicks and punts, Spiller would be great running and catching passes out of the backfield.

-If Berry is gone by #7, look for the Browns to try to trade down a few slots. If they cannot accomplish that, then look for them to select either Thomas, Williams, Clausen, Morgan, or Spiller at #7. If I am the Browns, I take Thomas at #7 if you cannot trade down.

-There is talk that the Redskins are thinking about selecting Eric Berry. The Redskins desperately want to move down because after their pick in the first round, they don't pick til the fourth round. They don't need a safety as they have La'Ron Landry, but the team is trying to send a smokescreen to the Browns. To move up to #4 it would probably cost the Browns a third round pick, and I don't know if I would pay that price for Berry. The Browns could try calling the bluff of the Redskins and hope Berry falls to them at #7, but we will see.

-CB Kyle Wilson of Boise State could be an interesting pick in the second round as well. He is a smart, quick, aggressive player who can sometimes lose matchup problems with his small height (5'10), and average instincts.

-Everyone keeps talking about QB Colt McCoy coming to the Browns at pick #38, and don't be surprised if the Browns make a trade to get back into the late parts of the first round or the very early part of the second round. Remember, the Browns have 3 third round picks and 3 fifth round picks at their disposal. Look for a trade to happen with some of those extra picks. If we don't select McCoy, look for guys such as Tony Pike, Dan LaFavour, Tim Tebow, and Tim Hiller to be drafted by the Browns.

-The Browns in their first 5 picks need to come away with a S, QB, RB/WR, OT. I believe these are the positions most in need as we need to add a playmaker to our secondary, a QB of the future, a playmaker on offense, and depth on the right side of our offensive line. This is a very deep draft class, so the Browns should come away with some solid picks.

-I don't think the Steelers would ever trade Big Ben to us, so any talk you hear of that is probably not true. It would cost the #7 pick, and while I would pay that price for a 2 time Super Bowl champion QB, I don't think the Steelers want to help their rivals. Yet again, the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to their division rival Redskins.

Cavs

-As I expected, the Cavs are up 2-0 on the Bulls here in the first round. I think they will lose tonight in Chicago. The Bulls have played the Cavs pretty tough, and its evident that they are just a less talented team than us.

-LeBron's 40 points in game 2 was great as he was just making jumper after jumper. When LeBron is making 3 point and mid range shots, he is unguardable. If you get in his face to prevent him from shooting, he will just drive right by you. LeBron stepped up on a night where Jamison (14 points) and Shaq (8 points), did not impact the game that much.

-You saw how rusty Shaq looked in Game 2 and there is going to be a period of adjustment for the Cavs. It will take some time for the team to get re-acclimated with him and Jamison. The Cavs now have to slow the tempo down a little bit, and grind games out.

-I wish Daniel Gibson would see the floor a little more often. Instead of throwing Anthony Parker out there, put in Gibson who was 47% from 3 for the season. Parker has been getting a lot of open looks and in the first 2 games of the series he is 4-11 from 3. While Parker is a bigger and better defender, Daniel is a quicker and better shooter than Parker.

-JJ Hickson is someone I would like to see out there. Yes he is young and still developing, but his athleticism down low would be key for a team like the Cavs. He can dunk with the best of them, and he can get up and down the floor pretty easily. We saw how well he and Shaq worked in the middle of the season. I know the minutes are hard to come by when you have to give Z and Andy time, but I hope to see Hickson out there more.

-Jamario Moon stepped up big hitting 4 3's in game 2, but most importantly he had 2 blocks and defender the perimeter pretty well. The Bulls shot 4-13 from 3, and Moon's athleticism was key in this game. I don't think we would've seen a performance like this from Wally Z or Sasha last year in the playoffs.

-It just goes to show you that in the playoffs, every team needs other players to step up besides their superstars. In Game 1, Mo (19 pts 10 assists), Jamison (15 points 10 rebounds), and Shaq (12 points 5 rebounds) all stepped up, and in Game 2, Moon stepped up with his defense and timely three point shooting. When the supporting cast of the Cavs steps up, we are a very hard team to beat. D Wade in Miami is currently down 2-0 to the Celtics, why? Because no one on his team can score. In game 1 of that series, besides Wade only 1 player scored in double figures (15). In game 2 of that series, besides Wade only 2 players scored in double figure (13 and 10). It goes to show you that every superstar needs a great supporting cast.

-I am still very fearful of the Magic and I have watched both of their games versus the Bobcats. I am thoroughly impressed with the way the Magic have been coached and played. If we do meet them in the Eastern Conference Finals, it will be an all out battle.

Well folks that just about does it. I will write my thoughts on the NFL Draft next, along with some thoughts on the Indians. Thanks and go Cleveland!

-Raz

NFL Draft Preview 2010

The most exciting time of the year is coming up for Browns fans. This coming Thursday, April 22nd the NFL Draft will begin. Instead of having the first 3 rounds on Saturday, they are splitting up the draft over 4 days. The Browns have a total of 10 draft picks, one pick in the first round, one pick in the second round, three picks in the third round, three picks in the fifth round, and two in the sixth round. The Browns are armed with draft picks and this could give them some ammunition to trade up if they wish.

The areas that the Browns need to address are the positions of S, QB, WR, and DE/DT. The Browns have Abe Elam, Mike Furrey, and Mike Adams as their safeties, and that doesn't put a lot of fear into the hearts of other teams. We currently have Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace as our QB's, and we have no long term starter. We have 2 sophomore WR's, one who didn't play much in Brian Robiskie, and another who should some potential in Mo Massaqoui. At DE/DT, Shaun Rogers got arrested and could face a suspension, and the team has no impact DE.

The Browns currently hold the 7th overall pick in the first round, the 38th pick in the second round and there are a bunch of ways the team can go. Here are some players the Browns could possibly end up with.

Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma- He is slated to go as the first overall pick, but the Browns have called the Rams about that pick. To get the first overall pick you have to trade next years first rounder, your first rounder this year, a second rounder, and probably a couple more draft picks. You basically have to sell your entire draft for that one pick. The Browns have too many other needs to trade away 3 or 4 draft picks for one player. Bradford has great size, accuracy, and mobility, but he has question marks when it comes to durability, and the spread offense he played it. If I am the Browns, I don't trade for the first overall pick.

Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame- I feel that Clausen will probably be there at 7, but the Browns shouldn't take him. He is a better prospect than Brady Quinn was coming out of college, but I am not sold on Clausen being a franchise QB. He comes off as a little bit cocky, doesn't have good mobility, and he has had injury issues in the past. He is a pretty accurate QB who played in a pro style offense with solid arm strength, but I don't think he is worth the 7th pick.

Eric Berry, S, Tennesse- This is the one guy I would LOVE the Browns to get. He fits the mold of exactly what the Browns need. A safety who can cover, tackle, and make plays in the secondary. Look at the AFC North, you have 2 of the best safeties in the NFL in the same division in Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed. Berry is a hard working kid who was productive in college. My only concerns with him are that he is a little short at 5'11, and has had some durability concerns. Make no mistake, he is the guy I want at 7.

The biggest fear Browns fans have is that he might be gone by the time we are on the clock. The Rams will take Bradford, Lions will take Suh/McCoy, Bucs will take Suh/McCoy, Redskins will take OT Russell Okung, and after the 4th pick it gets interesting. The Kansas City Chiefs own the 5th pick, and they do have a need at S, but the team had a horrible offensive line last year, and is looking to move former first round pick Brandon Albert to RT. Factor in the idea that the Chiefs just gave QB Matt Cassell an extension last year, and you have to wonder what GM Scott Pioli will do. Pioli stated months ago that he does not believe in taking safeties in the top 5, but he comes from the Patriots organization, where anything can happen. If the Chief take OT Brian Bulaga from Iowa, it leaves the Seahawks with the 6th pick to decide whether they want an OT, S, or RB. Their franchise LT Walter Jones is retiring, and the team is devoid of a play maker on offense. Also, the team has a young productive S in Jordan Babineaux (had 104 tackles and 2 INT's last year), so I could see the Seahawks either taking OT Trent Williams from Oklahoma, or Clemson RB CJ Spiller. We all know how much Pete Carroll loved RB's who were playmakers at USC (Joe McKnight, Reggie Bush, Stafon Johnson). I think the Browns have a 50% chance of drafting Berry.

Earl Thomas, S, Texas- If Berry is gone, this is the guy I want next. Again he fills a major hole in our secondary. He is athletic, can tackle, can help in the run, has very high football IQ, and is a hard worker. The only knocks on Thomas are that he is a little small (5'10), and that he might miss some tackles because of his lack of height. I would try my best to trade down a couple of slots, gain a couple more draft picks, and select Thomas somewhere between 10-12. If the Browns are scared he might be gone between 9-12, then I would just take him with the 7th pick.

Jared Odrick, DT. Penn State- Odrick has been flying up draft boards, but I am cautious about the Browns drafting him in the first round. Yes he fills a need on our D-line, but the needs of QB, S, and WR are more pressing than DE/DT. If he is available in the second round, then I might take a stab at him. The Browns are interested in him because he is a very developed player who can step in and play DE in our 3-4 defense. He has great technique, great size (6'5 304 lbs.), great speed, and a non stop motor. His weaknesses are some durability concerns, and his lack of strength. Also, Penn State lineman in the past have not succeeded in the NFL (Courtney Brown, Aaron Maybin, Jimmy Kennedy). I'd prefer to pick a QB over him in the 2nd round, but he is someone to watch out for.

Colt McCoy, QB, Texas- This is the QB I want out of this draft. He is a winner, agile, smart, and extremely accurate from 25 yards in. The Browns will be running a version of the West Coast offense, and that is predicated on a short passing attack, which McCoy fits perfectly. Some of his concerns are his arm strength concerning the deep ball, shoulder problems, and a lack of size (6'1). If he is there when the Browns pick at 38, we have to take him. From watching him play at Texas I believe he can turn into a really good QB in the NFL. He is a winner who came from a great program, and he is a hard worker. If he is available a few picks before we select at 38, and a team calls us offering that pick, I would try to use one of my extra 5th rounders to nab him.

Tim Tebow, QB, Florida- One of the most hyped up prospects I have ever seen. Tebow is a winner and while everyone outside of the state of Florida hates him, you have to give him credit. He is someone who doesn't back down from a challenge and he is a fighter. Aside from his religious views or home-school upbringing, Tebow has some interesting tools at QB. He is very mobile, has solid height (6'2), and solid arm strength. He has not played in a pro style offense, his delivery is weird, and he does not have good accuracy. He is a project in every sense of the word. I wouldn't touch him until the 3rd or 4th round.

Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati- Pike came onto the scene this year and he is an interesting prospect. He has great size at 6'5, has solid arm strength, can move in the pocket, and has good accuracy. His main knock is the fact that he has dealt with a few injuries in his career and that he might not be durable. Also, he is a raw QB who needs to work on his mechanics and footwork. Again, he seems like a project, so I would take a stab at him in the 4th or 5th round.

Dan LeFevour, QB, Central Michigan- LeFevour is an interesting prospect. He is an accurate passer who can get rid of the ball quickly, and has good size at 6'3. He tends to float the ball at times and did not play against great competition. He is not good at reading coverages and he again is a project too. If he is around in the 5th-6th round I would take a look at him.

Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati- Gilyard, along with Pike played a huge role in the Bearcats resurgence this year. He is a fast, smooth WR who has solid hands and ideal size (5'11). He is not strong and isn't a great route runner, but he can work to improve those traits. If he is around in round 2-3 I wouldn't mind taking a look at him.

Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota- Decker has a great work ethic, great size (6'3), and has great hands. He runs routes very well and while he is not athletic, he can make tough catches in tight areas. He reminds me a lot of Joe Jurevicious. Again, if he is around in round 2-3, I would take a look at him.

Taylor Price, WR, Ohio- Price is a WR who brings speed, and athleticism to the table. He is a hard worker who has good size at 6'0. He has a good work ethic and is a durable player. He does not have great hands and he does not block well. He is another receiver I would take a look at in rounds 2-4.

Freddy Barnes, WR, Bowling Green- Another Ohio product who has good size at 6'0, and who is a tough WR with good hands. He might not have great speed but he is someone who will block and is not scared to make a big play. He is someone I would take a look at in rounds 5-6.

Jimmy Graham, TE, Miami (FL)- Graham is a huge target at 6'6 and has great athleticism. He is fast and can jump really high. He is good at absorbing hits and he puts in good effort into blocking. He is still raw, does not run routes well, and does not have good hands. Also, he plays basketball for Miami. Graham would be an interesting pick in rounds 2-3.

Nate Allen, S, South Florida- If the Browns don't come away with either Berry or Thomas, look for them to go after this guy. We know how much Mangini covets smart, hard working players and Allen is one of them. He has good size at 6'0, athleticism, good ball skills, and has great instincts. He is not a great tackler, and he doesn't have much upside, but he would be a good pick in round 2.

Chad Jones, S, LSU- Jones has great size at at 6'2, and has great athleticism and can support the run. He has great upside potential and has great ball/hand skills. The issue with him is that people question his devotion to football as he plays baseball for LSU as well. Also, he has is raw and lacks awareness. If he is around in rounds 2-3, I would take a look at him.

Myron Rolle, S, Florida State- Sticking with the theme of high character, hard working, intelligent guys, look no further than Myron Rolle. He took a year off from college football to study abroad as a Rhodes Scholar. He has good height at 6'1, and good instincts. The concern's about him is his commitment to football (how long will he stay in the NFL for? he wants to be a M.D.), his athleticism, and how long it will take him to get re-acclimated after being away for a year. If he is around in rounds 4-5, I take a look at him.

Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama- Jackson has solid size at 5'10, and has quick feet. He has good instincts and is very physical. He is good against the run, but he has to redefine his technique and sometimes struggles against quick receivers. He seems to be a good fit for a secondary that plays a lot of zone, and in the 3-4 you see a lot of that. I would take a look at him between rounds 2-4.

Tyson Alualu, DT, California- Alualu has a non stop motor and a very good work ethic. He makes a lot of tackles and has good speed. He is a bit of a tweener at 6'2 295, and he projects as a 5 technique lineman in the 3-4. Mangini likes players that are smart and hard working, Alualu fits that mold. I would take a look at Alualu around rounds 4-6.

Andre Roberts, WR, The Citadel- Roberts is another hard working kid who is a team leader. He has very good hands and is very smooth. While he isn't very strong, nor does he have good size (5'10), he could project to be a solid slot receiver. He is a high intangibles guy that Mangini craves. I would take a look at from rounds 3-4.

Ciron Black, OT, LSU- Black has good size at 6'4 327 lbs. He is pretty athletic and good and the point of attack. Black is durable, can get a good push in the run game, and is a team leader. He dealt with inconsistency, and does not have good balance. He project as a RT in the in the NFL. I would take a look at him in rounds 4-6.

The three safeties I want the most are Berry, Thomas, then Allen. The QB's I want the most are McCoy, Pike, and LeFevour. The WR I like the most are Gilyard, Decker, Price, and Roberts. If the Browns can come away with Berry and McCoy in the first two rounds, I will be a very happy man. By taking these two guys, it fulfills the two biggest needs on the team, and it will allow the team to address other areas such as WR, DE/DT, RT, and RB. I am sure the Browns will make another trade during the Draft.

This is a huge draft for the Holmgren/Heckert regime. The team is loaded with a lot of picks, and the team has a lot of holes to fill. The team needs a future QB, playmaker on defense, and depth on the offensive line and WR. Holmgren has had a solid offseason so far by adding Chris Gocong and Scott Fujita to the LB corps, Sheldon Brown at CB, Ben Watson at TE, Tony Pashos at OT, Peyton Hillis at RB, and Jake Delhomme at QB. All of these guys are stop gaps, and the Browns must first fill the needs of S, QB, and WR, then look adding depth at DE/DT, OT, TE and CB. From what I have seen in the offseason, I have confidence that Holmgren and Heckert will do a fine job in the draft. Until next time, thanks for reading and go Cleveland!

-Raz

Its that time again

Well we now know who the Cavs will be playing in the first round and it will be the Chicago Bulls. We are 2-2 versus the Bulls this year, as our only real loss came in the very beginning of the year, and we lost by 2. Here are some keys to the series.

-The Cavs must work hard to integrate Shaq back into the rotation. Mike Brown must quickly figure out how many minutes everyone should get. Usually there are 8-9 players in the rotation in the playoffs. This means your going to see Mo, Parker, Lebron, Jamison, Shaq, Z, Andy, and either Moon/Jawad/Powe. Your not going to see Green, Telfair, and Gibson play. The reason for this is because the team struggled when first integrating Shaq and Parker, as we started 3-3. We then lost 3 straight when we added Jamison.

-Slowing down Derek Rose will be key because he can drive with his superior speed. Rose is the best player on the Bulls. He is a floor general and we have seen the struggles that Mo Williams has had with quick PG's. Look for West to be checking Rose for a period of time in the series.

-Having Andy on Joakim Noah will be key because these players are very identical. Noah is a great rebounder who plays with a lot of energy and can defend. He is the type of player who can frustrate any opponent.

-The Bulls have some size on their team as Noah is 6'11, Brad Miller is 7'0, Luol Deng is 6'9, and Taj Gibson is 6'9. It will be important for the Cavs to continue to pound the middle with Shaq, and have LeBron and Jamison finish around the basket.

-The Bulls have much less offensive firepower this year than they did last year. They lost Ben Gordon to free agency and traded John Salmons in February. This team depends on Derek Rose and Luol Deng for much of its offense, and if the Cavs can frustrate these 2 players, then they should be fine.

-My hope is to see the Cavs tune up their defensive intensity in this series. Without Shaq in the middle, the Cavs are softer in the middle and did not play as well defensively. Before Shaq hurt his thumb, the Cavs allowed the least amount of points in the paint. The team needs to go back to the tough, hard nosed defense we were used to seeing the last couple years in the playoffs.

-It will be imperative for Mo Williams to get going early in the playoffs. Last year he struggled and it really hurt the Cavs. He needs to play with confidence and hit his shots early. When he is playing well, the Cavs are very hard to beat.

Well folks, I know this is brief but I think it sums up most of my thoughts. I don't think this will be a cakewalk, but the Cavs should be able to get through this series. It will take the Cavs some time to adjust to having Shaq back, along with Jamison. This is why I believe the Cavs might lose a game. My prediction: Cavs in 5.

Thanks for reading and go Cleveland!

-Raz

It has been awhile again....

Sorry folks, I know I have been really lazy. Here are some quick thoughts on Cleveland sports as of late.

Cavs

-The Jamison trade has been a huge plus for this team. He has developed into our second scorer as he is averaging 15 ppg and about 8 boards since his arrival to Cleveland. He is very creative around the basket, and can shoot.

-The return of Z was great and I am very happy to see him back here. He will be very valuable against the Lakers and the Magic come playoff time. We need his height and rebounding ability against the likes of Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum.

-The injury of Shaq hurts us somewhat because the Cavs were playing great with him in the middle. He was getting in a groove and he was providing the low post threat we craved. Also, our interior defense has suffered since the in jury of Shaq. While we are scoring more, we are giving up more points as well. My only concern is that when he comes back there will be a little bit of an adjustment period. We saw the Cavs come out of the gate at 3-3 when Shaq first came on, and the Cavs dropped 3 straight when Jamison was first acquired. According to sources, Shaq is healing quickly and he is looking to come back for the last few games. If I am the Cavs, I lower the minutes for all of our starters and main rotation players. I give more minutes to Powe, Moon, Jawad, and Green. I would like to get Shaq acclimated back with the starting lineup for a game or two, so they can be prepared for the playoffs.

-Getting homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs this early is great because it allows us to slowly rest our starters. Homecourt advantage will benefit us most in the NBA Finals because of the 2-3-2 format. If the Cavs win the first 2 home games, they just have to steal one in LA (which they can do). Homecourt against the Magic isn't as effective because as they showed last year, they can beat us in Cleveland. They will shoot great whether they are in Cleveland, Orlando, Montreal, or Paris.

-The playoffs are coming up in a couple weeks and it is going to be great. The biggest threat to the Cavs title hopes to me are the Orlando Magic. I saw this team play against the Dallas Mavericks last thursday and I came away very impressed. Howard can rebound and finish at the basket with ease, Lewis can still shoot 3's over most players, Nelson can zip through defenses, and Pietrus can light it up anytime (he was 6/6 from 3 point land vs. the Mavs). Not to mention that Vince Carter can run hot and cold. They have a frantic, but effective coach in Stan Van Gundy. The key to the Cavs beating the Magic is getting Howard in foul trouble. If he gets in foul trouble, the Magic become a perimeter team. I put Shaq on Howard and let them battle by themselves. I do not double Howard at all, and I try to minimize the amount of 3's taken. As Brian Windhorst described, a potential series between the Cavs and Magic will be an "all out war".

-Mo Williams has played better as of late, after struggling for a couple of weeks (past 3 games he is averaging 20 ppg). He is averaging more assists, but less points this season. I think there are a few reasons behind this, one, his shoulder still might be bothering him. Two, the acquisition of Jamison takes away touches for Mo. The Cavs need Mo to be aggressive and hit his shots. The Cavs are 16-3 when Mo scores more than 20 points. He is the best shooter on the Cavs and we need him to bury big shots come playoff time.

-Free throw shooting is killing this team. The Cavs need to continue to work on their free throw shooting during practice and not take the issue lightly. You can not afford to lose games in the playoffs because of free throw shooting. The coaching staff must make it a priority to work on this during practice.

-Do I think the Cavs will win the championship this year? I am not sure yet because I have to see how Shaq get re-acclimated. If the Cavs are playing to the best of their abilities, then I believe we can win it all, but our margin of error is pretty small, especially against a team like the Magic. Also, when you have a battle tested team like the Lakers, with a great coach in Phil Jackson, they will always be a tough out.

Browns

-Team president Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert have done a pretty solid job thus far. We have 10 draft picks in the NFL Draft. LB Scott Fujita will provide a solid defender and OT Tony Pashos will add depth to the right side of our offensive line. Both signing are low risk and provide good depth for the team. TE Ben Watson gives our offense a solid receiver. I don't really like the Delhomme signing, but he is simply a stop gap at QB. I compare it to the signing of QB Trent Dilfer a few years ago. The Browns are certain to draft a QB in April.

-Possible QB's the Browns could draft include Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, Tony Pike, Dan LaFavour, John Skelton, and Tim Hiller. The QB's I want the most are McCoy, Pike, and LaFavour. I will discuss this in the NFL Draft preview next week.

-I am hoping that S Eric Berry falls to the Browns at the #7 pick. He is a great playmaking safety who would help shore up our secondary. Again, I will discuss this later.

-The trade for LB Chris Gocong and CB Sheldon Brown was a good one too. We had extra draft picks, and Alex Hall didn't get much playing time. Brown is 31 and he probably only has 2 good years left, but he is a definite upgrade over Brandon McDonald. Chris Gocong can provide solid depth at LB and could even start. Don't be surprised if D'Qwell Jackson gets traded, especially with the addition of Fujita and Gocong. He has solid value and he could get us some more draft picks.

-The Browns need to add a S, QB, CB, WR, RB in the draft. We need playmakers in the secondary and on offense. Massaqoui is a solid building block, and Jerome Harrison showed good potential. Robiskie did not see the field much, and the Browns need to add more big play threats on this team.

-You can get the sense the Browns are on solid footing with Holmgren and Heckert at the helm. Holmgren explains his actions very clearly, and he seems to be getting along very well with Heckert and Mangini. They seem to have a sense of direction, and they aren't trying to fool anyone. They addressed the needs of OT, CB, TE, and LB this offseason, and I hope they address the need of S, QB, and WR in the draft.

Indians

-While I don't expect the Indians to destroy this year, they do have a pretty solid young team. We should be able to score runs with Choo, Asdrubal, Valbuena, Grady, Branyan, LaPorta, Brantley, and hopefully Hafner.

-The rotation is a major concern of mine. Fausto was not good last year, Westbrook is coming off Tommy John surgery, Huff and Masterson are inconsistent, and Talbot is an unknown. If the pitching staff can keep things together and put together 6-7 solid innings a night, the Indians can do some damage.

-It will be interesting to see how Chris Perez does in the closers role. The injury of Kerry Wood opened this up for Perez. Perez struggled greatly after he came over in the DeRosa trade, but he seemed to settle down as the season progressed. The bullpen was horrible last year and I don't think it can get much worse. It is important for the Indians to get off to a good start and the bullpen will be a key to that.

-Hiring Manny Acta was an ok move. He is very good at dealing with Latino and Hispanic players. While he did not have a great record in Washington, he did not have a lot of talent to work with. In Cleveland he will have better players, and we can see what he is made out of.

-The Indians have a lot of young promising players in the wings that fans should get excited about. Beau Mills, Lonnie Chissenhall, Carlos Santana, Matt LaPorta, Michael Brantley, Lou Marson, Alex White, and Hector Rondon. The Indians consistently have one of the best farm systems in baseball and its very sad that we cannot keep these guys together.

I think that wraps it up. I will soon write my NFL Draft preview, along with some thoughts on the Indians and Cavs playoff matchups. Thanks for reading and go Cleveland!

-Raz